Starting a Flower Bed: Remove Grass or Sheet Mulch?

Turning grass under creates a nitrogen-drawdown period (1 month) as microbes decompose it. Two better options:

1. Sheet mulch: Cardboard/newspaper (4–6 layers) over grass, then 3–4″ finished compost. Plant directly into compost.
2. Sod cut: Remove grass layer (rent sod cutter), compost it, amend soil, plant.

Sheet mulching is faster, builds soil, and avoids the decomposition lag.